They Don’t Run Ads

No $4M Super Bowl ad spots for this budget-friendly chain. The iconic “Fearless Flyer,” the Trader Joe’s newsletter you see at all the checkouts, is the company’s primary form of advertising. Having super-friendly employees doesn’t hurt, either!

They Don’t Charge Suppliers

Most grocery store chains charge their suppliers a fee to stock an item on the shelf. This results in marked-up prices… so Trader Joe’s doesn’t do it. Simple!

6 / 8

Shutterstock / Kristi Blokhin

They Keep Operational Costs Low

Trader Joe’s stores don’t have a full-service butcher shop, bakery or café. We’ve also heard that the chain likes to use energy-efficient lighting to cut down on utility costs. Plus, TJ’s tends to stock certain things in boxes, rather as individual products on the shelf.

7 / 8

Shutterstock / Roman Tiraspolsky

They Have Small Stores

Less square footage than other top grocery chains means Trader Joe’s can keep overhead costs low—and every penny they save on the A/C bill gets passed on to customers like us.

8 / 8

Lester Balajadia

They Don’t Have Coupons

It might seem odd, but Trader Joe’s helps customers save money by not having promotions. They offer the best deals without any “gimmicks,” which means they don’t have to pay to print coupons, promote a weekly sale or run a membership program. Just low prices, every day!